1st Round Selection (11th Overall)- Michael Rasmussen. Big center (6'5" 205 lbs), which would fit the Kings' style of play. Last year with Tri-City he put up 55 points (32G, 23A) in 50 games. The year before he put up 43 points (18G, 25A) in 63 games. The only thing I don't like about him is that while he scored a lot more with Tri-City this year than last year, he went from a +4 to a -13. But I think playing in the Kings system will improve that and I think that the Kings should select him at number 11 if he is available. Should he get taken before that, my two backup selections would be Lias Andersson (C,LW) and Kristian Vesalainen (RW).
Trade to New Jersey for their second round pick. Give them defensive prospect Jacob Moverare, 3rd and 5th round picks. Don't see a place for Moverare in the NHL. With Forbort, LaDue, Gravel, Fantenberg, and Kale Clague all up and coming, along with Doughty, Muzzin, and Martinez already there, I see no place for him. With that said, 2nd round selection (36th overall Via NJD)- Maxime Comtois. I feel as if Comtois is a hidden gem in this draft. Playing for Victoriaville in the Q, he put up 51 points (22G, 29A) last year in 64 games and 60 points (26G, 34A) in 62 games the year before that. He is 6'2" 200 lbs, plays a hard strong game and would be an absolute steal in the second round. Should he get taken before that, my backup selections are Jesper Boqvist (C) and Ivan Lodnia (RW).
Second Round selction (41st overall)- Keith Petruzzelli. Jonathan Quick isn't getting any younger, so I think it is time to take a goalie. Why not bring in another American born goalie? He is 6'6" 190 lbs, comparable to Devan Dubnyk in size. In 35 games played, he went 22-10-1 with 2 shutouts. That is equivalent to him going 44-20-2 in a 70 game workload. I know he won't be playing that much ever in his career, although if he takes the same workload as Quick he will very well be close to that number. He posted a 2.40 GAA and .918 save %. With the Kings defense in front of him those numbers will improve. Should he get taken before that, my backup selections are to trade down later in the second round for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G) and Stuart Skinner (G).
3rd Round Selection- Traded to NJD along with Jacob Moverare and 2017 5th round pick (TBL) for 2017 2nd round pick (NJD).
4th round selection (103rd overall)- Pavel Koltygin. Plays for Drummondville in the Q. He is 6'0" 190 lbs. He put up 47 points (22G, 25A) in 65 games. In the Russian U16 finals he had 9 points (4G, 5A) in 6 games. In the Russian U17 finals he had 6 points (3G, 3A) in 6 games. Also was an Alternate Captain for the U17 finals. Should he be taken before that, my backup selections are Tyler Steenberg (LW), and Austin Pratt (C).
4th Round Selection (118th overall Via MTL)- Santeri Virtanen. Don't have too much info on him but with the one season I have stats on he put up 45 points (14G, 31A) in 35 games. He is 6'2" 190 lbs and plays center. Should he be taken before that, my backup selections are Kyle Olson (RW) and Brannon McManus (LW).
I agree with you on the 1st round pick. I really like Kristian Vesalainen (RW) as a back up plan. The other stuff.....Who knows. I do agree we need to get a goalie and maybe even two of them (College goalie earlier and a prospect in the later rounds)
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